Washington State
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research
BILL
ANALYSIS
Innovation, Community & Economic Development, & Veterans Committee
HB 1952
Brief Description: Concerning long-term community recovery after disasters.
Sponsors: Representatives Volz, Ryu, Christian, Couture, Schmidt, Ramel, Graham, Schmick and Davis.
Brief Summary of Bill
  • Requires the Military Department to administer a program for long-term community recovery from an emergency or disaster.
  • Supports counties and tribes by assisting with recovery planning, developing a recovery manual, issuing grants to create recovery groups, providing recovery training, and creating a resource directory.
Hearing Date: 1/12/24
Staff: Martha Wehling (786-7067).
Background:

The Washington Military Department, under the direction of the Adjutant General, administers Washington's comprehensive program of emergency management.  The Adjutant General is responsible for developing a comprehensive, all-hazard emergency plan analyzing potential hazards and identifying emergency procedures to coordinate local and state resources to respond to such hazards.  The Adjutant General also coordinates all organizations for emergency management within Washington and cooperates with emergency management agencies and organizations from other states and the federal government.  The Adjutant General also develops and manages an educational program for state and local government officials regarding catastrophic incidents and continuity of government planning. 

 

An "emergency or disaster" is an event which demands immediate action to preserve public health, protect life, protect public property, or to provide relief to any stricken community, or a circumstance that reaches a dimension or degree of destructiveness that results in the Governor proclaiming a state of emergency.  A "local organization for emergency services or management" is an organization created, under statute, by a state or local authority to perform local emergency management functions. "Emergency management" means the preparation for and carrying out of all emergency functions to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.  Emergency management does not include functions for which the military forces are primarily responsible or preparation for emergency evacuation or relocation in anticipation of a nuclear attack.

 

Washington's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan (CEMP) provides the framework for statewide mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery activities.  After a disaster occurs, response occurs in four phases:   immediate, short-term, intermediate, and long-term.  Long-term recovery is included in Washington's 2019 CEMP as Emergency Support Function 14, and under rule, is a required element in each political subdivision's local plan of operations.
Summary of Bill:

The Adjutant General is required to prepare and administer a program for long-term community recovery from emergency or disaster. The program will assist county governments and federally recognized Indian tribes.

 

The program will facilitate long-term community recovery by:

  • assisting county and tribal governments with long-term community recovery planning;
  • developing and updating a manual to facilitate long-term community recovery;
  • issuing grants to counties and tribes to assist with the establishment and operation of long-term community recovery groups;
  • providing training focused on long-term community recovery in cooperation with local organizations for emergency services or management; and
  • creating and updating a resource directory of state, federal, and international agencies, volunteer organizations, and service providers that might assist individuals and communities during long-term community recovery.

 

 
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Requested on January 2, 2024.
Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.